Courses

SWRK 501-Cultural Competency in Social Work Practice
Expands culturally competent standards of practice used in making effective assessments and providing interventions across cultures.

SWRK 510-Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW Program.
Examines behavior within the context of families, groups, organizations, communities, and cultures. Topics include developmental stages of the individual within multiple systems with a particular focus on issues of diversity.

SWRK 511-Understanding the Rural Community
Prerequisites: SWRK 510, advanced standing, or permission of the instructor.
Explores basic social work macro theories and practice modalities in the context of rural communities focusing on organization, leadership, and human behavior.

SWRK 520-Generalist Social Work Practice
Prerequisite: Admission to the program and enrollment in SWRK 560
Presents micro level theories as they apply to individuals and families. Foundation level skills are tied to theory for practice including communication skills, case management skills, and assessment skills. Field experiences in appropriate off-campus settings may be required. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designated or assigned sites.

SWRK 521-Social Work Clinical Assessment and Intervention
Prerequisites: SWRK 500, 510 and 520 or advanced standing.
Focuses on clinical processes of assessment and diagnosis for rural-centered social work practice. Topics include theories within the Bio-Psycho-Social paradigm, frameworks for organizing and formulating diagnostic understanding with diverse populations.

SWRK 522-Group Dynamics in Social Work Practice
Prerequisites: SWRK 501, 510 and 520.
An introduction to group work based interventions in social work, including dynamics of group interaction, stages of group development, and group types. Experiential excercises are used to promote understanding of group processes.

SWRK 530-Foundation of Social Welfare Policy
Prerequisite: Admission into the MSW Program.
Foundations to social policy, social welfare, and the American society. Introduction to analytical and critical thinking about social welfare policy and processes.

SWRK 540-Foundation of Social Work Research Methods
Prerequisite: SWRK 501 or permission of the instructor.
Basic skills, knowledge, and values of social work research methods. Introduces single subject design and program evaluation.

SWRK 560-Foundation Field Practicum I
Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW Program and enrollment in SWRK 520.
A beginning application of advanced social work principles and practice skills in a human services environment. Field experiences in an appropriate off-campus setting is required. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designated or assigned sites. Grading: Pass/Fail.

SWRK 561-Foundation Field Practicum II
Prerequisite: SWRK 560.
Continued application of advanced social work principles and practice skills in a human services environmemnt. This is a continuation of SWRK 560. Field experiences in an appropriate off-campus setting are required. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designating or assigned sites. Graded: Pass/Fail.

SWRK 610-Social Work Administration and Supervision
Prerequisite: SWRK 511.
Teaches the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for advanced practice focusing on the social work roles of administrator and supervisor. Field experiences in appropriate off-campus setting may be required. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designated or assigned sites.

SWRK 620-Advanced Psycho-Social Approaches for Rural Practice
Prerequisite: SWRK 521.
Focuses on knowledge, skills, and values for advanced micro level social work within a rural area. Topics include clinical interventions with individuals, families, and groups, empowerment and interdisciplinary approaches.

SWRK 621-Rural Community Organization and Development
Prerequisites: SWRK 510 and SWRK 511.
Teaches knowledge, skills, and values of advanced macro level social work practice with a focus on complex skills in community development, economic development, and organizational change within the rural community.

SWRK 622- INTEGRATED SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH FAMILIES
Prerequisites: All 500 level courses, SWRK 620, SWRK 630
Corequisites: SWRK 661
This course builds on the knowledge and skills gained in the generalist social work practice classes. Knowledge and skills related to the social work processes for planned change using engagement, assessment, planning, implementing (interventions), evaluating, terminating, and follow up in working with families will be taught.

SWRK 630-Rural Social Welfare Policy
Prerequisite: SWRK 530.
Corequisite: SWRK 660.
Focuses on policy analysis with emphasis on skills in legislative advocacy and decision making related to social policy and services for rural areas. Includes local and state government decision-making.

SWRK 640-Applied Social Work Research
Prerequisite: SWRK 540 or advanced standing.
Corequisite: SWRK 661.
Focuses on skills, knowledge, and values for evaluation of advanced rural social work with emphasis on single subject design and program evaluation. Students conduct a research project on their practice.

SWRK 660-Concentration Field Practicum I
Prerequisite: Successful completion of SWRK 561 and permission of field director.
Corequisite: SWRK 630.
An advanced application of social work principles and practice skills in a human services environment with a specific population. Field experiences in an appropriate off-campus setting are required. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designated or assigned sites. Graded: Pass/Fail.

SWRK 661-Concentration Field Practicum II
Prerequisite: Successful completion of SWRK 660.
Corequisite: SWRK 640.
The capstone course, a continuation of SWRK 660. Application of advanced social work principles and practice skills in a human services environment with a specific population. Field experiences in appropriate off-campus settings are required. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to designated or assigned sites. Graded: Pass/Fail.

SWRK 671-Social Work and the Law
Prerequisite: SWRK 501 or permission of instructor.
Introduction to legal issues in social work. Identifies similarities and differences between legal and ethical obligations and dilemmas. Topics include courtroom evidence, procedure and testimony.

SWRK 672-Child Sexual Abuse
Prerequisite: SWRK 510, and advanced standing or approval of instructor.
Dynamics, causes, and effects of child sexual abuse across the life span. Focuses on interventions, skills, and knowledge for working with families and individuals experiencing child sexual abuse.

SWRK 673-Grief/Loss Issues Intervention
Prerequisite: SWRK 520 or permission of the instructor.
Dynamics of grief and loss. Theories/models for interventions that are relevant for advanced direct social work practice in rural settings.

SWRK 695-Special Topics in Social Work
Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW Program or permission of the instructor.
An in-depth examination of a selected topic in social work. Topics will vary. May be repeated with different topics for a total of 6 credit hours.

SWRK 698-Selected Readings in Social Work
Prerequisite: Completion of the 1st year of MSW or advanced standing.
An independent study with a faculty member focusing on the development of a literature review or thesis topic pertaining to an agreed upon area within rural centered social work practice.

SWRK 699-Selected Research in Social Work
Prerequisite: SWRK 698.
An independent study with a faculty member focusing on the completion of the research proposal initiated in SWRK 698. This course may be taken for 3 or 6 credit hours.